Ice cube tray



July 14, 1942. 1.. L. MALLARD 2,289,847

ICE CUBE TRAY Filed Nov. 9, 1938 v NW7 1 K jam/v 4/17/14 meo Patented July 14, 1942 UNITED; STATES. PATENT, OFFICE azsaar:

Logan L. Mallard, Norfolk, Ya, asslgnor of onehalf. to H. Clay Hoi'heimerll, Norfolk, Va.

Application November 9, 1938, Serial. No. 239,724

' meansfor ice cube trays having three or more rows of ice cube compartments.

1 Claims.

This invention relates to an ice cube tray and more particularly to ametal grid structure pro viding at least three rows of ice cube compartments and composed of relatively movable parts having mechanical means for securing the release of the ice cubes from the tray.

The present invention'is an improvement upon the invention illustrated anddescribed in my copending application Serial No. 204,646, filed April 27, 1938. In that application I illustrated and described a novel metal ice cube tray having a grid structure arranged therein formed of relatively movable parts and having lever means connected thereto for effecting relative movement of the parts whereby the cubes would be released from the tray and ejected from the grid structure, thereby eliminating the necessity of running water over the tray and grid structure in order that the cubes may be released from the tray as is the case with the conventional ice cube tray having a metallic receptacle provided with a rigid grid structure arranged therein. u In the above mentioned-application, I disclosed a grid structure for an ice cube tray which provided two rows of ice cube compartments. In many cases, it is desirable to provide three or more rows of ice cube compartments but such trays are objectionable by reason of the difficulties encountered in attempting to release the cubes from the middle or interior compartments provided by'the grid structure. For example, in the conventional rigid grid structdre'for an ice cube tray wherein it is necessary to run water over the tray to releasethe ice cubes therefrom, the outer rows of cubes are firstreleased and thereafter the cubes from the middle or inner rows.

To release ice cubes from such interior compartments-it is necessary to run water over the grid structure not only until the frozen bond between the ice and metal ha's'been releasedbut until the size of the ice cubes has been materially reduced by melting;

The difllculty encountered in securing the 'release of ice cubes from such interior compartments is'due to the fact that ice first forms in the outer compartments and thereafter in the inner compartments; When the ice forms in the inner compartments, substantial pressure is exerted by the ice against the walls of the interior compartments which pressure must be dissipated by partially melting the cubes of ice before there can be any. release of the ice cubes therefrom. It-

is this condition which has rendered it particularly diillcult to provide mechanical cube release An important object of this invention is to provide' a grid structure for an ice cube tray providing at least three rows of ice cube compartmentswhich will readily, permit the release of the ice cubes from the interior compartments.

A further object is to provide a grid structure for an'ice cube tray wherein there are at least two rows of longitudinal separator plates, providing at least three rows of ice cube compartments in the tray, and which are readily movable away from each other to facilitate the release of the ice cubes from the interior row of'compartments.

A further object is to provide a grid structure for an ice cube tray composed of relatively movable parts providing at least three rows of ice cube compartments, and which has mechanical means for effecting relative movement of the parts to effect the release of all the ice; cubes from all the compartments.

V A further object is to provide a grid structure plates of the longitudinal grid units to effect the release of the ice cubes from the grid structure. A further object is to provide an ice cube tray of the character referred to wherein a single operating means is provided for the mechanical means through which the individual plates of the longitudinal grid units are relatively movable to loosen the ice cubes from the grid structure. A further object is to provide an ice cube tray which embodies; the desirable'characteristics of the structure shown in my copending application referred to in a grid structure having two or more longitudinal grid units thereby providing means 7 for easily and effectively releasing the cubes from a materially larger ice cube tray than has been possible with prior constructions.

The above and other advantages of the inven-' tion will become app rent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing I have shown one embodiment of the invention. Inthis showing;

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a tray having a grid structure arranged therein,

Figure 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sec-' tional view showing the grid structure in cube row or rows of releasing position, parts being shown in elevation,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure I, showing the handle lever in normal position, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of atransverse grid plate and two longitudinal grid plates, the parts being shown in unassembled relationship.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I designates a conventional ice cube tray having a bottom I I, end walls I2 and side walls I3, the walls preferably diverging upwardly, as shown. The ice tray forms no part of the present invention per se and may be of any desired form.

The grid structure is arranged within the tray and comprises a plurality of transverse plates I4 and a. plurality of separator units I5 arranged longitudinally of the receptacle and in parallel with substantially vertical edges H which operate to space the transverse members I4 from each other and to divide the transverse compartments formed by the transverse plates I4 into separate individual ice cube compartments. The edges I-I of adjacent longitudinal members IS are spaced the thickness of the metal of the transverse plates II, for a purpose which will become apparent. Each pair of adjacent longitudinal plates I6 of each separator unit I5 are pivotally connected together for relative movement with respect to each other.

ing relationship with an end 26 of a plate I9 secured to one of the adjacent plates I6. In

order'to permit this sliding abutting relationship;

Each of the transverse plates I4 being spaced from each other by two pairs of adjacent plates I6, it will be apparent that substantial movement of the transverse plates I4 from a position substantially at right angles to the longitudinal separator members I5 will be prevented. The edges 21' of the slots 2|, although permitting relative movement of the members I5 toward and away from each other, will operate to retain the members I5 in a position substantially at right angles to the transverse plates I4. Accordingly, it will be apparent that the transverse plates I4 and longitudinal plates I6 are connected for relative movement with respect to each other.

A lever system lsconnected to the end plates I6 of each separator I5. This lever system is substantially similar to the one shown in my copending application Serial No. 239,723, filed No- "vember 9, 1938. The lever system comprises a.

lever 28 secured to a pivot member 29 which extends transversely of the device for pivotal connection with both adjacent end plates I6. These plates include upwardly projecting portions 30 carried by the adjacent plates 16 and through which the pivot member 29 slidably projects. The ends of the member 29 may be reduced to limit sliding movements of such member through from each.;other a distance slightly greater than i the projections 30. A similar pivot member 3I --is connected to projections 32 formed on the members I9 of the end plates'IS at the opposite ends of the longitudinal separators IS. A connecting rod is secured at one end to the pivot To this end, each pair of longitudinal separator plates I6 are provided with a combined connecting and ejecting unit I8 comprising a pair of identical members I9. The members I9 are rigidly secured to one of the longitudinal plates I6 by rivets 20 which are preferabl-y countersunk flush with the surface of the connecting members I9.

Each transverse plate I4 is provided with openings or slots 2I formed therein and through which the connecting unit I8 extends. The connecting members I9 are drilled as at 22 for the reception of a pivot pin 23 which operates to pivotally connect the-members I9 to an adjacent longitudinal plate IS, the plates I6 being drilled as at to provide an opening for the reception of the' pivot pinf23. The width of each slot 2| is greater than the combined thicknessof two of the connecting members I9 and one of the longitudinal plates I6 whereby relative movement of the longitudinal separator members I5 toward nd away from each other will be permitted.

relative movement of the separator units is present invention and will be referred to in detail later.

It will be apparent that the above described arrangement of the plates I6 and connecting members I9 will providemembers I9 slidable over the surfaces of each plate I6 to which the members I9 a e pivotaly connected by the pivot 23. The

an important feature of the members I8 connect the longitudinal plate I6 to ea h other and are arranged in abutting end to I end relationship as shown Figures 2 and 4.

slid- .75

Each of the plates I'9 will hav'an end 25 below the upper edge of the tray and placed in a v refrigerator with the lever 28 lying flat against the member 32. Ice will initially form in the outer compartments of the grid structure and thereafter inthe inner compartments. The expansion of the ice initially forming in the outer compartments will cause movement of the longi-' tudinal separators l5 toward each other, such movement being permitted by the openings 2| in the transverse plates I4. As ice forms in the inner compartments, there will be an expanding force exerted by the ice against the walls of the inner compartment which will tend to retain the cubes of ice positionedtherein in tight engagement with the'walls of such compartments.-

After the water has-frozen into cubes of ice defined by the pockets in the tray and it is desired torelease the cubes, the tray is removed from the refrigerator and'placed on a suitable supporting surface. The free end of the lever 28 is then lifted and given a turning movement about the pivot'member 29. Such movement of the lever 28 will carry with it the adjacent end of the connecting member 35 and it will be apparentthat as such movement of the lever 28 takesplace, relative movement of the pivot members 29 and 32 toward each other will occur. Initial substantial movement of the lever 28 will cause relatively slight movement of the pivot members 29 and 3| toward each other whereby a high leverageratio will be obtained in the initial 28 approaches the cube releasing position shown in Figure 2, correspondingly smaller movements of the lever 28 will result in relatively greater V movements of the pivot members 29 and 3| to-..

ward each other since the member 35 approaches a position wherein it is tangential to the circle described by the movement of the pivot 36 about the'pivot member 29. I

Initial movement of the lever'28 will cause the cubes of ice to be released from the receptacle III. In addition, it will be apparent thatcontinued movement of the lever 28 will cause relative pivotal movement of the separator plates l6 of each row with'respect to each other. 'Such relative movement of the separator plates IE will cause sliding movement of the members l9 over the surfaces of the longitudinal plates to which they are respectively pivoted. This sliding movement of the members l9 over the surfaces of the separator plates I6 will serve to break the bond between the cubes of ice and the surface operation of the device. However, as the lever of the plates 16 and impart an ejecting motion to the cubes of ice.

As the grid structure approachesthe cube releasing position shown in Figure 2, the cubes of ice positioned in the outer compartments will be initially released therefrom. Thereafter, the expartments will be released therefrom.

Attention is invited to the fact that the means for effecting turning movement of the separator plates l6 need be connected only to the remote or end plates l6 of each longitudinal separator l5. In this connection. it will be noted that the pivotal turning movement of each adjacent pair of plates i6 is limited by engagement of the upper ends of the adjacent edges ll of suchplates against opposite faces of the corresponding transverse plate I4 above the opening 2| therein.

Accordingly, the end plates l6 of each row will initially turn until the upper ends of their. inner edges I'Lengage against the adjacent plates M with the latter bearing against the upper ends of the edges I! of the second plates from the ends of the grid structure. Furthermovement of the lever 28 will then act to turn the second plates from the ends of the grid structure. v This operation is repeated with successive plates until all have beentumd on their pivots to assume the positions shown in Figure 2. Such turning movement will cause the lower edges I! of adjacent plates Hi to move apart and the transverse members M will occupy a position substantially bisecting the angle between the adjacent edges H of the plates I6. The'turning movement of adjacent plates IS with respect to each other and the transverse plates 14 together with the sliding movement of the ejecting members I9 0V6! the surfaces of the p ates 18 will ve y away from one another throughout their lengths,

release the cubes of ice from their bond with the grid structure. I I It will be apparent that the above construction provides a gridstructure composed of relatively movable parts providing at least three rows of ice cube forming compartments. The lever means will effectively cause relative movement of the various part of the grid structure to eifectively secure the release of all of the cubes from all of the compartments. 4

So far as I am aware, no ice cube tray with mechanical release means has been previously perfected involving the use of two or more lon tudinal grid units because of the substantial diiliculties involved in releasing the inner ice cubes, that is, cubes which are engaged on all four sides by the longitudinal and transverse plates. It has been the common practice, of. course, to provide grid structures having two or more longitudinal grid units rigidly .fixed with respect to the transverse plates, but such devices have not been provided with mechanical cube rclease means and it has been necessary to melt the cubes from the tray by running water over the grid after removing the latter from the tray.

It is well knownthat in such a device, the running of water over the grid first releases the cubes along the sides and ends of the grid, such ubes being engaged by the grid structure only on two or three sides of the cubes. Substantial melting action is required for releasing the inte- 'rior cubes with a resultingloss of ice and a raising of the temperature of the cubes before they are released.

The present device provides a relatively simple construction through which a grid structure including a plurality oflongitudinal grid units is provided with mechanical cube release means.

This has been possible only by mounting the longitudinal grid units in such a manner as to permit them to partake of movement toward and away from eachother. This result .has been accomplished while retaining the advantages of the structure of my copending application Serial No. 204,646, filed April 2'7, 1938, the cubes being ejected from their compartments by relative movement of the members I9'over thesurfaces of the longitudinal grid plates, and a simple lever means being employed for turning the longitudinal grid plates. In this connection, it will be apparent that the present. device employs only a single lever for turning all of the plates of the several longitudinal grid units. Single pivot members 29 and 3llare provided for the respective ends of the grid structure and the ends of the members 29 and 3| are reduced to permit the relative movement of the longitudinal grid units:

with respect to each other without permitting lalildlle sliding movement of the members 29 and It is to be understood .that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred eii'ample of the same and that variousjchanges in the shape, size and. arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A grid for an ice cube tray comprising a pinrality oflongitudinal gridelements and a plurality of transverse grid element's,-said longitudinal'elements being connected and arranged with respect to said transverse elements to par.-

take of limited relative movement toward and of each row through each of said longitudinal elements being formed of a plurality of plates connected to one another for relative movement substantially in their own planes, and common means for elfecting the latter relative movement of the platesof said longitudinal units.

'2. A grid for an ice cube tray comprising a plurality of transverse plates and a plurality of rows of longitudinal plates, said transverse plates being provided with a plurality of sets of subplurality of rows of longitudinal separator plates, each or said rows comprising a plurality of individual separator plates arranged to space said transverse plates from each other, and means pivotally connecting said separator plates for relative movement withrespect to each other and said transverse plates comprising members rigid with each of certain successive separator plates and pivotally connected to the adjacent separator stantially aligned openings corresponding positions tothe planes of the respective rows of longitudinal plates, and means connecting the plates of each row through said openings for relative movement substantially in their own planes, said openings being wider than said connecting means whereby said rows of longitudinal atively movable-to a limited extent toward and away from each other,-and common means for moving all of the longitudinal plates of said rows relative to each other in their own planes.

4. An ice cube tray comprisingn receptacle, a grid structure arranged in said receptacle comprisinga plurality of transverse plates dividing said receptacle into a plurality of transverse compartments, and a plurality of rows of separator plates arranged longitudinally of said receptacle dividing .each of said transverse compartments into at least three ice cube forming compartments, said plate structures being connectedfor relative movement with respect to each other, said rows of longitudinal plates being connected and arranged with respect to said transverse plate structures to be relatively movable toward and away from each other throughout their lengths, and means for efiecting relative movement of said plate structures, whereby cubes of ice in said compartments will .be released therefrom.

5. An ice cube tray comprising a receptacle, a grid structure arranged in said receptacle comprising a plurality of transverse plates dividing said receptacle into a plurality of transverse compartments, and a plurality of rows of separator plates arranged longitudinally of said receptacle dividing each'of said transverse compartments into at least three ice cube forming compartments, each of said rows comprising a plurality plate at one end thereof, said transverse-plates being provided with openings through. which said connecting members loosely extend permitting movement of said rows toward and away from each other.

7. A grid structure for an ice cube tray comprising a plurality of transverse plates and a plurality of rows of longitudinal separator plates, each of said' rows comprising a plurality of individual separator plates arranged to space said transverse plates from eachv other, and means.

pivotally connecting said separator plates for relative movement with respect to each other and said transverse plates comprising members rigid with each of certain successive separator plates and pivotallyconnected to the adjacent separator plate at one end thereof, said members being slidable over the surface of the separator plates to which they are pivoted to loosen ice cubes adhering thereto; said transverse plates of separator plates-spacing'said transverse plates from each other, means pivotally connecting the separator plates of each row for relative movement throughout their lengths with respect to each other and said transverse plates, and means for effecting turning movement of said plates on their pivot means whereby cubes of ice in said compartments will be released therefrom, said rows of longitudinal plates being connected and arranged with respect to said transverse plates to be relatively movable toward and away 7 from each other.

6. A grid structure for an ice cube tray complates being being provided with openings through which said connecting members loosely extend permitting movement of said rowstoward and away from each other. 0

' 8. A grid structure for an ice cube tray com- I prising a plurality of transverse plates and a plurality of rows of longitudinal plates, each of said rows comprising a plurality of individual separator plates connected for relative movement with respect to each other and said transverse plates,-said separator plates being connected and arranged with respect to said transverse plates to be relatively movable toward and away from each other, and a single lever means connected to the end longitudinal plates of opposite ends of said rows for moving such end plates toward each other for efiecting said first named relative movement of said separator plates in each of said rows.

9. A grid structure for an ice cube tray comprising a plurality of transverseplats, a plurality of longitudinal units each comprisinga plurality of individual separator plates arranged substantially in end to end relationship and spacing said transverse plates from each other, and means connecting each separator plate to an adjaeent separator plate for relative movement with respect thereto, said transverse plates being provided with openings through which said connecting means extend, said openings being wider than said connecting means to permit relative movesaid rows for moving such end plates toward each other for efiecting said first named relative movement of said separator plates in each of said rows.

10. A grid structure for an ice cube tray comprising a plurality of transverse plates, a plurality of longitudinal units each comprising a plurality of individual separatorplates means connecting each separator plate to an adjacent separator plate for turning movement with respect thereto substantially in its own plane, said transverse providedwith openings through which said connecting means extend, said open-'- ings being wider than said connecting means to permit limited relative movement of said units toward and away from each other, parallel pivot members extending through the end separator plates at opposite ends of the grid structure, and

lever means connected to said pivot means for effecting movement of said pivot members toward longitudinal plate is mounted for turning movement with respect to the next adjacent plate in its own plane, said openings being wider than said connecting means'whereby said rows of Iongitudinal plates are relatively movable to a limited extent toward and away from each other, and common means for efiecting turning movement of all of the longitudinal plates of said rows, each transverse plateextending between tray comprising a ment with respect to each other and to said trans verse plates, and means for effecting turning movement of said separator plates on their pivot means, said connecting means comprising a series of connecting members, each two consecutive separator plates in each of said rows being connected by one of said connecting members, one end of each of said connecting members being I fixed to one of said two separator, plates, and common means for effecting relative movement of all of said separator plates for release of ice cubes from said compartments.

15. The combination of claim 12 that includes connecting means pivotally connecting the separator plates in each of said rows for relative movement with respect to each other and to said transverse plates, and means for effecting turning movement of said separator plates on their pivot means, said connecting means comprising a. series of connecting members, each two consecutive separator plates in said rows being connected by one of said connecting members, one end of each of said connecting members being fixed to one of said two separator plates, the other end of each connecting member being pivotally connected to the other of said two separator plates, and commonmeans for effecting relative turning movement of all of said separator plates for release two consecutive plates of each of said rows, and

the space between each two of said successive plates being greater than the thickness of the interposed transverse plate, whereby each transverse plate is engageable by the upper ends of the edges of two consecutive plates to cause each transverse plate to assume a position substan- W tiallybisecting the angle between the adjacent edges of the associated longitudinal plates.

12. An ice cube tray comprising a receptacle, a grid structure arranged in said receptacle comprising a plurality of transverse plate structures extending from side to side oI-saidreceptacle and arranged to divide said receptacle into a plurality of transverse compartments: a plurality of rows of separator plates, said rows being arranged longitudinally to divide each of said transverse compartments into at least three ice cube forming compartments, said separator plates bemg relatively moveable with respect to each other, and means interconnecting saidtransverse plates with said rows of separator plates, said means'being constructed and arranged to permit transverse movement of said rows with respect to said't'ransverse plates to insure the release of ice cubes frozen in said three compartments.

13. The combination of claim 12 that includes connecting the separator plates in each of said rows for relative movement with respect to each other and to said transverse plates, and means for eilecting turning movement of said separator "plates on pivot means whereby'cubes' of ice -in said compartments will be released therefrom.

14. The combination or claim 12 that includes connecting means pivotally connecting the separator plates in each of said rows for relative move- Ill .of iee cubes from said compartments, said connecting members being so constructed and arranged that they will extend beyond their pivot points and that they will be ,slidable over the surfaces of the separator plates to which they are pivoted during relative movement oisaid separator plates- 16. The combination of claim 12 that includes connecting means pivotally connecting the separator plates in each-of said rows for relative,

movement with respect to each other and to said transverse plates, and means for effecting turning movement of said separator plates on their pivot means, said connecting means comprising a series of connecting members, each two consecutive separator plates in said rows being connected by one of said connecting members, one-end of each of said connecting members being fixed to one of said two separator plates, the other end or each connecting member being pivotally connected to the other of said two separator plates, and

common means for eflecting relative turning movement of all of said separator plates for-release of ice cubes from said compartments, said connecting members being so constructed and arranged that they will extend beyond their pivot points and that they will be slidable over the surfaces of the separator plates to which they are pivoted during relative movement of said separator plates, said transverse platesobeing prov ded with openings through which said connecting members project, said openings being wider than said connecting members to permit limited relative movement of said rows of separator plates toward and away from each other. I 

